Synopses & Reviews
Nick of Time is the first young reader's book written by bestselling author Ted Bell.
In the grand tradition of epic novels like Robert Louis Stevensons Treasure Island comes a wondrous tale of time travel, adventure, and riches, in which twelve-year-old Nick McIver sets out to become the hero of his own life.”
The setting is England, 1939, on the eve of war. Nick and his younger sister, Kate, live in a lighthouse on the smallest of the Channel Islands. Nick and Kate come to the aid of their father who is engaged in a desperate war of espionage with German U-boat wolf packs that are circling the islands. The information they provide to Winston Churchill is vital as he tries to warn England of the imminent Nazi invasion.
One day Nick discovers an old sea chest, left for him by his ancestor, Captain Nicholas McIver of the Royal Navy. Inside, he finds a time machine and a desperate plea for help from the captain. He uses the machine to return to the year 1805. Captain McIver and, indeed, Admiral Nelsons entire fleet are threatened by the treachery of the French and the mutinous Captain Billy Blood. Nick must reach deep inside, using his wits, courage, and daring to rescue the imperiled British sailors.
His sister, Kate, meanwhile, has enlisted the aid of two of Englands most brilliant scientific detectives,” Lord Hawke and Commander Hobbes, to thwart the invading Nazis. She and Nick must face Englands underwater enemies, a challenge made all the more difficult when they discover the existence of Germanys supersecret submarine.
In this striking adventure for readers of all ages, Nick must fight ruthless enemies across two different centuries, on land and sea, to help defeat those determined to destroy his home and his family.
Ted Bell is the former Vice-Chairman of the Board and World-Wide Creative Director of Young & Rubicam, one of the worlds largest advertising agencies. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Hawke, Assassin, Pirate, Spy, and Tsar. Nick of Time is his first novel for young adults.
A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book
It's on the eve of war in England, 1939, that twelve-year-old Nick McIver sets out to become "the hero of his own life." Nick and his younger sister, Kate, live in a lighthouse on the smallest of the Channel Islands. Nick and Kate come to the aid of their father who is engaged in a war of espionage with German U-boat wolf packs that are circling the islands. The information they provide to Winston Churchill is vital as he tries to warn England of the imminent Nazi invasion.
One day Nick discovers an old sea chest, left for him by his ancestor, Captain Nicholas McIver of the Royal Navy. The chest contains a time machine and a desperate plea for help from the captain. Nick uses the machine to return to the year 1805. Captain McIver and, indeed, Admiral Nelsons entire fleet are threatened by the treachery of the French and the mutinous Captain Billy Blood. Nick must use his wits, courage, and daring to rescue the imperiled British sailors.
His sister, Kate, meanwhile, has enlisted the aid of two of Englands most brilliant "scientific detectives," Lord Hawke and Commander Hobbes, to thwart the invading Nazis. She and Nick must face Englands underwater enemies, a challenge made all the more difficult when they discover the existence of Germanys supersecret submarine.
In this adventure, written in the tradition of epic novels like Robert Louis Stevensons Treasure Island, Nick must fight ruthless enemies across two different centuries, on land and sea, to help defeat those determined to destroy his home and his family. "Nick of Time is a blastthe best of Robert Louis Stevenson, Horatio Hornblower, and Harry Potter. The kid in me loved it, and so did the adult.”James Patterson "Nick of Time is a blastthe best of Robert Louis Stevenson, Horatio Hornblower, and Harry Potter. The kid in me loved it, and so did the adult.”James Patterson "Nick of Time takes young readers on a thrilling historical voyage. There is an undeniable attraction for boys to the figure of the heroic Englishman (though Nick's spunky younger sister will seem to girls the true hero of the novel), and Nick's mantra in times of stress'Nelson the strong, Nelson the brave, Nelson, the lord of the sea'gets him through the most grueling of moments, when a boy might otherwise give up. The descriptions of the sea battles here are definitely not for the faint of heart."Sonja Bolle, Los Angeles Times A brilliant adventure, hidden within a rolling saga, tucked inside an intriguing mystery. That's Nick of Time. Ted Bell proves that he's the master of swashbuckling for both young and old.”Steve Berry, author of The Venetian Betrayal
Wow! Some books sweep you away. Nick of Time amazed me, dazzled me, and swept my imagination off to sea . . . I've been craving an adventure story with a good mystery and this arrived in the nick of time to rescue me.”Diane Chen, SchoolLibraryJournal.com
This old-fashioned adventure adds a new twist to elements of Treasure Island, Horatio Hornblower, and 'Indiana Jones' . . . Every middle school boy (and many girls, too) will relish joining Nick on his heroic adventures. Charming and thrilling, this book could become a classic with its good, clean, swashbuckling fun.”VOYANick of Time reminded me of Brian Jacques, one of my favorite authors. Everything clicks together perfectly . . . I really like the era and technology of World War II, especially the secret weapons . . . the whole pirate thing really appeals to me . . . The time travel idea is cool, and whats even better is that da Vinci created it!”Henry Willshire, age 13
"This is an immensely appealing book about 12-year-old Nick McIver, son of a lighthouse owner, who lives on Greybeard Island off the coast of Great Britain in 1939. Opening with a thrilling near-fatal sailboat excursion, the action kicks into high gear when Nick finds a sea chest containing a mysterious glowing globe . . . Nick finds himself bouncing back and forth in time fighting exceedingly nasty pirates, Napoleon's naval forces in 1805, and Nazi spies in 1939. Nick is the pluckiest, most likable boy-hero since Robert Lewis Stevenson's David Balfour. With great battle scenes; lots of nautical jargon; and themes of courage, integrity, and honor, this book will appeal to restless boys who can never find books written just for them. Three huzzahs and a great big 21-gun salute to Bell for his first novel for kids. Hopefully, it won't be his last."Jane Henricksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, Alaska, School Library Journal (starred review)
"Bell's narrative never lacks for excitement . . . for younger readers . . . this book will become an instant classic."Cara Chancellor, Hollywood, Florida, KLIATT
Review
"Nick of Time is a blast the best of Robert Louis Stevenson, Horatio Hornblower, and Harry Potter. The kid in me loved it, and so did the adult." James Patterson, New York Times bestselling author of the Maximum Ride series
Review
"A brilliant adventure, hidden within a rolling saga, tucked inside an intriguing mystery. That's Nick of Time, Ted Bell proves that he's the master of swashbuckling for both young and old." Steve Berry, author of The Venetian Betrayal
Review
"Wow! Some books sweep you away. Nick of Time/i> amazed me, dazzled me, and swept my imagination off to sea....I've been craving an adventure story with a good mystery and this arrived in the nick of time to rescue me." Diane Chen, School Library Journal
Synopsis
In the grand tradition of epic novels like Robert Louis Stevenson's
Treasure Island comes a wondrous tale of time travel, adventure, and riches, in which twelve-year-old Nick McIver sets out to become "the hero of his own life."
The setting is England, 1939, on the eve of war. Nick and his younger sister, Kate, live in a lighthouse on the smallest of the Channel Islands. Nick and Kate come to the aid of their father who is engaged in a desperate war of espionage with German U-boat wolf packs that are circling the islands. The information they provide to Winston Churchill is vital as he tries to warn England of the imminent Nazi invasion.
One day Nick discovers an old sea chest, left for him by his ancestor, Captain Nicholas McIver of the Royal Navy. Inside, he finds a time machine and a desperate plea for help from the captain. He uses the machine to return to the year 1805. Captain McIver and, indeed, Admiral Nelson's entire fleet are threatened by the treachery of the French and the mutinous Captain Billy Blood. Nick must reach deep inside, using his wits, courage, and daring to rescue the imperiled British sailors.
His sister, Kate, meanwhile, has enlisted the aid of two of England's most brilliant "scientific detectives," Lord Hawke and Commander Hobbes, to thwart the invading Nazis. She and Nick must face England's underwater enemies, a challenge made all the more difficult when they discover the existence of Germany's supersecret submarine.
In this striking adventure for readers of all ages, Nick must fight ruthless enemies across two different centuries, on land and sea, to help defeat those determined to destroy his home and his family.
Synopsis
This epic adventure is the story Nick McIver, a lad who sets out to become the hero of his own life. Nick returns to the year 1805, via a time machine, and helps save Captain McIver and, indeed, the Admiral's entire fleet from the treachery of the French and the mutinous Captain Billy Blood.
Synopsis
In the tradition of "Treasure Island, Nick of Time" is an epic adventure starring a young lad named Nick McIver, who uses a time machine to rescue two children taken prisoner by pirates. Along the way, Nick changes the course of events in two time periods. Illustrations.
Synopsis
An epic adventure story starring young Nick McIver, who uses a time machine to rescue two young children taken prisoner by pirates.
Synopsis
Ted Bells NICK OF TIME is an epic adventure story starring young Nick McIver, who uses a time machine to rescue two young children taken prisoner by pirates. Along the way, with courageous feats of derring-do, not to mention his resourcefulness, our young hero—“the most reliable boy in England”—changes the course of events in two time periods, the Napoleonic Wars and World War II.
Synopsis
In the celebrated tradition of grand adventure tales going back to Robert Louis Stevensons Treasure Island, this is an epic adventure story about a boy who changes the course of history with his courageous feats of derring-do.
Synopsis
The setting is England, 1939, on the eve of war. Nick and his sister, Kate, begin gathering vital information for Winston Churchill as he tries to warn England of the imminent Nazi invasion. But the Nazis become the least of Nicks problems after he discovers a time machine hidden in a cove. Unfortunately, the evil pirate Captain Billy Blood, who travels through time capturing little children and holding them for ransom, will stop at nothing to possess the priceless machine. With the help of Lord Hawke, whose children have been taken by Blood, Nick must fight the ruthless pirate on land and sea in two different centuries in a desperate attempt to save his home and his family from being utterly destroyed.
About the Author
Ted Bell is the New York Times bestselling author of Nick of Time and The Time Pirate, as well as the bestselling Alexander Hawke series. For many years he was a leading talent in advertising, and won numerous Clios and Cannes Gold Lions and the Cannes Grand Prix. He began his advertising career as a copy-writer at Doyle Dane Bernbach in the 1970s. In 1991, he joined Young&Rubicam, one of the world's largest advertising agencies, as Vice-Chairman of the board and World-Wide Creative Director. Bell retired from advertising in 2001 to write full-time. He lives in Florida and Colorado.